Biography:

Christopher Shays grew up in Darien, Conn., and later moved to Stamford, where he lived for many years until moving to Bridgeport in 1999.

He graduated from Darien High School in 1964. He received a bachelor's degree in American history and political science in 1968 from Principia College, a master's degree in business in 1974 and a master's degree in public administration in 1978 from New York University.

Shays and his wife were in the Peace Corps as teachers in the Fiji Islands, 1968-70. He then worked as a real estate broker. Shays was an executive aide to Trumbull First Selectman Larry Heimann from 1971 to 1972.

Shays served in the Connecticut House from 1974 to 1987. He was elected to the U.S. House in an August 1987 special election.

Shays and his wife, Betsi, have one daughter named Jeramy.

Past Campaigns:

After serving in the Connecticut House from 1974 to 1987, Christopher Shays was elected to the U.S. House in a 1987 special election with 57 percent of the vote, defeating Democrat Christine M. Niedermeier.

Shays won election to a full term the next year and has since been re-elected to six consecutive terms. He defeated Democrat Al Smith in 1990 with 77 percent of the vote and Democrat Dave Schropher with 67 percent of the vote in 1992. He defeated Democrat Jonathan Kantrowitz in 1994 with 74 percent of the vote. He was re-elected in 1996 with 61 percent of the vote against Democrat Bill Finch.

Shays won again in 1998, defeating Democrat Jonathan Kantrowitz with 68 percent of the vote. He won re-election in 2000 with 58 percent of the vote.

He was re-elected in 2002, garnering 64 percent of the vote to defeat Democrat Stephanie Sanchez.

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